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The 85-year-old had been campaigning behind the scenes for weeks to replace President Sergio Mattarella.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi He has announced that he will not run for president, removing obstacles to negotiations between the parties ahead of parliamentary elections on January 24.
The appointment of Prime Minister Mario Draghi is likely to be a result, but it is not yet clear whether the expansion of the parties supporting his coalition will be approved, fearing that his departure could lead to early national elections.
Berlusconi said the former president of the European Central Bank wanted to remain at the helm of government until the natural end of the legislature in 2023.
Speaking at a virtual meeting with right-wing leaders on Saturday, Berlusconi stressed that he had the numbers, but in the spirit of “national responsibility”, called on those who put his name to resign.
“Today, Italy needs unity,” he said, highlighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “I will continue to serve my country in other ways.”
The right-wing coalition called on Berlusconi to run for president, but his proposal was unlikely to succeed because of difficulties in gaining the necessary support from more than 1,000 lawmakers and regional representatives traditionally involved.
He is a Berlusconi a very divisive figure in Italy and the center-left camp had already ruled out retreating.
He was temporarily banned from public office after being tried for tax fraud in 2013, and is still on trial in recent cases for bribing witnesses to a case of prostitution of minors linked to his famous “Bunga Bunga” sex parties. a few years ago.
The Italian president is in a high-profile position, but has decisive arbitration in political crises and has a major political influence during his seven-year term.
No clear winners
The winner of the secret ballot in parliament must have a two-thirds majority in any of the first three rounds of voting. An absolute majority is enough then.
Neither the center-right nor the center-left blocs have enough votes to impose a candidate from their camp, which means some sort of commitment is needed to avoid a long blockade.
“We will work with center-right leaders … to agree on a name that can garner broad consensus in parliament,” Berlusconi said in a statement.
Berlusconi’s right-wing allies, Matteo Salvinirena The league and the Italian Brothers said they were grateful for his decision.
In a statement, Salvini said the center-right bloc was united and ready to make some “high-profile” proposals.
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